When you’re building a career in photography, one of the first things you need to understand is whether you are operating as a freelance photographer or as a solo-agency. This distinction affects how you price projects, manage clients, and structure your business.
Freelance Photographer
A freelance photographer typically works independently. You handle the creative work, meet with clients, and deliver images, but your role is primarily focused on shooting and editing. Freelancers usually hire assistants or contractors on a project-by-project basis, rather than maintaining a full team.
The main advantages of freelancing are flexibility and simplicity. You can focus entirely on the creative side, keep overhead low, and manage your own schedule. Freelance photographers also tend to have lower base rates because they are not responsible for covering a team’s salaries or extensive production costs.
Solo-Agency
Operating as a solo-agency is different. Even though it might still be just one person officially running the business, you are managing both creative and production responsibilities. This can include coordinating assistants, stylists, equipment rentals, logistics, and more. You are essentially acting as a one-person company that handles the full scope of a project.
The benefits of being a solo-agency include higher earning potential and greater control over large or complex projects. You can quote higher rates because you are offering a full-service solution. However, it also comes with more responsibility. You need to manage budgets, timelines, client communication, and any collaborators involved in the project.
How This Impacts Pricing
Understanding whether you are a freelancer or a solo-agency directly impacts how you quote projects. Freelancers might focus on a creative fee for their photography and basic production costs. Solo-agencies must account for full production fees, including all resources required to deliver the project from start to finish.
Which Path Should You Choose?
There is no right or wrong answer. Freelancing is great for photographers who want to stay nimble, keep costs low, and focus on their art. Running a solo-agency works well for those who want to scale projects, take on larger clients, and manage more complex productions. Many photographers evolve from freelance to solo-agency as their experience and client base grow.
This lesson comes from The Adventure Photographer’s Playbook, where I cover practical strategies for structuring your business, quoting projects, and knowing your worth in the photography world.
This lesson comes from my ebook "The Adventure Photographer's Playbook" and it costs $10. Why so cheap? The goal is to help as many new to mid level photographers as possible go from nothing to getting booked in 18 months:
